voice;

[kidjoy]

[It’s been a long time since she’s addressed the community. While she’s always sounded annoyed, now there’s a heartache behind the anger. An exhaustion, a defeat.]

Back in the desert we got this story that gets told to every greenie that shows up in the sand. That it don’t matter if you went and got dusted ‘cause your shadow still lives on. [A shaky, sharp breath.] Killjoys never die.

But in this place, it ain’t true. The desert doesn’t believe in death but here there’s no life to begin with. Light’s out is just light’s out. [The anger in her voice picks up, deep and visceral.] All this place gives is empty promise after empty promise, dangles lil’ shiny pieces of hopin’ right in your face then laughs it away again. Just makes everythin’ you were ever told one damn cruel joke.

[There’s a few moments of nothing of but heavy breathing and snotty snuffles before she starts again, voice forcibly more calm.]

So why don’t all you rat kings and thrill seekers and wannabe white suits give me a new story worth believin' in?

Comments

[kidjoy]

Yeah? And why not?

[farmboyjedi]

There just wasn't much there. It was a backwater world where not much happened and we spent most of life just surviving. I just wanted to leave for most of my childhood. It wasn't always easy even after, but things turned out better because of it.

[kidjoy]

Wouldn't call anythin' about the desert 'water'. We spent all of our time just tryin' to stay alive too. 'cept we didn't entertain no ideas of leavin'. Wasn't anywhere else to go.

[farmboyjedi]

I'm sorry for you. But it's good that you were able to make it through.

What kind of world was it? Besides being a desert, I mean.

[kidjoy]

If ya could call it makin' it, yeah.

Bad. Just a city that was tryin' to steal everyone's souls and the desert. That's where the people who were tryin' to fight back lived.

[farmboyjedi]

A lot of that is what we were doing, although nothing was trying to steal souls. That sounds frightening.

[kidjoy]

Frightin' was one word for it. What exactly were you tryin' to do?

[farmboyjedi]

Not much, really. But Tattooine is out of the way and criminals seem to like it...and there are other species who aren't all that friendly, either. Tuskens would ransack anything they could get to, and there were some dangerous animals around.

I was just glad to leave...the circumstances weren't easy, but my life did get a lot better when I could finally leave.

[kidjoy]

Never heard of a Tusken. Or a Tattooine. Sounds like an ink shop.

Leavin' anywhere that's home ain't ever easy. If if things get better. Part of what makes somewhere home.

[farmboyjedi]

The Tuskens are one of the native races...and Tattooine was my home. It's a desert planet in an out of the way place...not much from the better parts of the galaxy gets there.

No, that's true. Even when you want to leave, it can have its difficult parts.